CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT

Two brands that have been at it for decades, a rivalry now refreshed

- Keshav Teiva Poumai

Two unforgettable names that introduced a sense of sportiness to Indian motorcyclists about two decades back are the Pulsar and Karizma. Well, unforgettable mainly because neither Bajaj nor Hero seem to want to let go of the legendary brands, and are adamant on keeping the names alive. Having attained great popularity upon their respective launches, all those years back, a new lease at life feels apt, doesn't it?

Remember when they first hit the streets and everyone wanted either one or the other, from college-going teenagers to working professionals? The appeal that both the Pulsar as well as the Karizma had in the eyes of the public was terrific for both Bajaj as well as Hero-Honda at the time. Both had a brutish charm about them and while the Pulsar was more of a regular hoodlum, the Karizma felt more like a certain sophisticated hooligan.

Of course, over the years the Pulsar brand has grown, that too by leaps and bounds and with various different permutations and combinations. The Pulsar N250 and the F250 now sit at the top of the table, and since we have the N250 with us as a long-term vehicle, it has become somewhat of a crowd favourite. Embodying the essence of what the Pulsar brand was built on, the N250 is snappy and not at all shy to put on a display of its capabilities.